Load supporting device



Nov. 23, 1943. J. C. McCARTNEY 2,335,214

LGAD SUPPORTING DEVICE Filed Aug. 29, 1942 Patented Nov. 23, 1943 LOAD SUPPORTING DEVICE John C. McCartney, Lancaster, Pa., assignor to Armstrong Cork Company, Lancaster, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application August 29, 1942, Serial No. 456,673

Claims. (Cl. 294-432) covering such as linoleum or felt base in order to dispose such rolls in position to be wound and unwound. These rolls are, of course, very heavy and it is customary to use some form of tackle to raise and lower the roll. Generally, a rod or bar is passed through the roll and the chain of the tackle hooked over the ends thereof in order to raise or lower the roll. This is unsatisfactory and undesirable since occasionally the chain may slip on the bar and the roll falls without warning,

with resulting injury to the material and, sometimes, workmen have been injured when these very heavy rolls have been dropped. Another problem arises due to the fact that careless workmen may be injured when disposing the chain' about the end of the bar supporting the roll of floor covering.

The chief object of my invention is to provide a load supporting device which securely and satisfactorily supports a load and which may be easily and quickly disposed in proper position to perform its required function. A further object of my invention is to provide a load supporting device which may be easily and quickly disposed in proper position to support a load and which is so designed as to obviate injury to workmen handling the same. Other objects of my invention will be apparent from the following description.

This invention relates to load supporting device which comprises pivotable cooperating arms shaped to define an opening to receive a load supporting element, means holding said arms as a unit, and means to pivot said arms to engage and to disengage a load supporting member in said opening.

The attached drawing illustrates a preferred embodiment of my invention, in which Figure 1 is a View in front elevation of the load supporting device of my invention in closed position;

Figure 2 is a view in side elevation of the load supporting device shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a View in front elevation similar to Figure 1 illustrating the load supporting device in partially opened position; and

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic View of the load supporting device in use.

Referring to the drawing, there is shown a load supporting device 2 which comprises arms 3 and i shaped at their lower edges to define an opening 5 adapted to receive a load supporting member such as a rod or bar 6 which extends through a roll I to be supported. The arms 3 and 4 cross one another at a point 8 adjacent their upper ends as shown in Figures 1 and 3 for a purpose hereinafter described. Arm 3 is provided with a convex protuberance 9 adapted to fit within a concave recess l0 formed in arm 4. Arm 4 is provided on opposite sides with retainer plates ll bolted thereto. A bolt l2 extends through an opening in arm 3 and through plates H to hold arms 3 and 4 as an integral unit and forms a point about which the arms may pivot. It will be noted arms 3 and 4 are so shaped that a load is supported chiefly upon one arm, as shown in the drawing, arm 4, thus preventing the pivot bolt l2 from being subjected to constant shear.

A yoke I3 is disposed about the upper edges of arms 3 and 4 and such yoke may be attached by means of a cable or chain 94 to the tackle for raising and lowering the load. Opening and closing bars 15 and [5 are mounted in the yoke I3. The closing bar I6 is disposed below the crossing point 8 of the arms 3 and 4 while the opening bar I5 is disposed above the crossing 8 of the arms. Yoke l3 also serves as a stop for the edges of arms 3 and 4 when the device is closed. When it is desired to open the device 2, bar I5 is moved downwardly against surfaces I7 and ll of arms 3 and 4 which pivots arms 3 and 4 about bolt l2 and enlarges the opening formed by the contour of such arms. When it is desired to close the device, bar It is moved upwardly against surfaces l8 and I8 which pivots the arms 2 and 3 in an opposite direction and closes the device, or in other words, decreases the area of the opening for-med by the cooperating arms.

In Figure 4, I have illustrated my load supporting device in use. There is shown the roll 1 of floor covering carried on the bar 6 which extends through the center thereof. The bar 6 is sup ported by standards 19 mounted on a platform 20. Load supporting members 2 of my invention are disposed on each end of the bar 6 in open position. Such members may be easily and quickly disposed on the ends of bar 6 while they are in open position without danger of injury to the workman. As forces are applied by means of cable M to the device 2, yoke I3 is moved upwardly carrying with it closing bar It which bears against surfaces l8 the device since the Weight of the supported load.

is sufiicient to hold bar 6 securely against surfaces i8 and I8 and thus prevent the device from opening. As soon as bar 6 is supported by standards I9, the weight of the load is removed from the load supporting device and bar l5 maybe moved downward to open the device to permit its ready removal from bar 6.

Many advantages are presented by the device of my invention. It securelyholdsa loadto-be supported and obviates injurytothe material or workmen which might be occasioned by improper or inadequate support. Itis economical in manufacture and may be quickly and easily. disposed in proper positionvtosupport a roll withoutinjury to, workmen even, if the workmen beinatteni tive or careless.

While I have described and illustrated apreferredembodiment of my invention, it will ;be

understood my invention is notlim ited theretosince it maybe otherwise embodied withinthe scope of the following claims,

I claim: I V

1. A load supporting: device which comprises pivotable cooperating arms shaped to define; an

opening to receivea load supporting member, one

of said ,arms having a convex protuberance, the otherof said arms having to said arm containing the recess, means extending through said plates and the other arm holdingsaid arms asa-unit and forming a pivot therefor,and.means to pivot saidarmsto engage and todisengage a load supporting member disposed in saidopening.

2. A load supporting device whichcomprises pivotable, cooperating arms shaped to define, an opening to receivea loadlsupporting member, means holding said arms as a unit andforming a pivot.therefor,- a yoke disposed over the ends of said'arms, andmeans mounted on said yoke to V a concave recess adapt r, ed toreceive the protuberance, plates attached said arms upon upward and downward movement pivot said arms to engage and to disengage a load supporting member disposed in said opening, said yoke being adapted to serve as a stop to prevent further pivoting movement of said arms in one direction.

3. A load supporting device which comprises pivotable cooperating arms shaped to define an opening to receive a load supporting member, one of said arms having a convex protuberance, the other of said arms having a concave recess adapted to receive the protuberance, plates attached to said arm containing the recess, means extending through said plates and the other arm holding said arms as a unit and forming a pivot therefor, a ,yoke disposed over the ends of said arms, and means held in said yoke adapted to pivot said arms to engage and to disengage a load supporting member disposed in said opening.

4; A load supporting device which comprises pivotable cooperating arms shaped to define an openingto receive aload supporting member, plates attachedv to opposite sides of one of said arms, means extending through said plates and the other arm holding said arms as aunit and forming a pivot therefor, a yoke disposed over the ends of said arms, and means held in said yoke adapted to pivot said arms to engage and to disengage a load supporting member disposed in said opening, said yoke being adapted to serve as,

a stop to prevent further pivoting movement of said arms in one direction.

5. A load supporting device which comprises pivotable cooperating arms shaped to define an opening toreceive a load supporting member,

said arms crossing one another adjacent the ends thereof, the ends being. disposed in substantially the sameplane, plates attached to opposite sides of one, of said arms, a bar extending through said plates and the-other arm holding said arms as aunit and forming a pivot therefor, a yoke disposed adjacent the ends of said arms and .over thecrossing of said arms, bars held in said yoke and disposed one above and one below thecrossing of said arms, said bars being adapted to pivot of said yoke to engage and to disengage a load supporting member disposed in said opening, said yoke being adapted to serve as a stop .to prevent further pivoting movement of said arms in one direction.

JOHN c. MCCARTNEY. 

